The East Side Food Co-op community room was crowded as Rep. Sydney Jordan, far right, spoke. Sen. Doron Clark (end of table) took notes of audience questions. (Luis de Leon)
The Eastside Food Co-op community room overflowed with neighbors during a town hall on Saturday, March 22.
With some listening in from the hallway, Rep. Sydney Jordan, DFL-District 60A, and Sen. Doron Clark, DFL-District 60, shared how work at the Minnesota State Capitol affects their constituents.
Jordan and Clark acknowledged the narrow majorities in both the House and the Senate, and how they could impact the amount of legislation passed this session. Jordan said she and other House DFLers feel as though they are “playing defense” rather than focusing on new legislation.
“It’s more about protecting everything we’ve built and accomplished over the last two years,” Jordan said.
The Minnesota House of Representatives is split with 67 DFLers and 67 Republicans. In the Senate, the DFL holds a narrow majority with 34 DFLers and now 32 Republicans, down from 33 after the arrest and subsequent resignation of Sen. Justin Eichorn, R-Grand Rapids, earlier in March.
“There are clear things that we stand firm on,” Clark said. “We will not negotiate on human rights. We will not negotiate on abortion rights. We will not negotiate with trans rights. There are clear things that we will not bend on.”
Clark and Jordan explained bills they sponsor that address varoius topics and how the Trump administration’s actions could affect Minnesota.
One resident asked about improving teacher retention and recruiting in the state, while another emphasized the need for funding more mental health services in Minnesota schools. At one point, Minneapolis City Council President Elliott Payne jumped in, explaining that the city funds school-based clinics via the city general fund, which used to be funded exclusively through federal grants.
“We know that that is not going to be a reliable source of funding,” Payne said. “At the city level, I’m thinking about offensive ways to bring more resources into our schools, especially when it comes around those wrap-around services like our school-based clinics.”
The state budget was also discussed at length. Clark explained there would be a surplus for the next two years, with a deficit to follow, something he says is being closely looked at by legislators. In part, the inconsistent budget forecasts could be due to “ballooning” costs in other areas of the budget, including human services and other infrastructure investments, as well as the uncertain amount of federal funding that could come in.
They also talked about the state’s parks system, responding to concerns about the complexities surrounding state funding for regional parks. The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) Commissioner Billy Menz added to the legislators’ answers.
“People come here to visit our parks, people who used to live here come back to visit even our community parks,” Menz said. “The state has an investment in those things, and trying to make sure that people understand that our regional parks (in Minneapolis in particular) is a really huge tourist attraction for the whole state, and it’s a really valuable asset.”
Jordan stressed the importance of leaving feedback on road construction projects when public comment sessions are open.
Other questions examined property tax relief funding, HOA issues, pollution control issues and the Minnesota Paid Leave Act, which takes effect on January 1, 2026, and entitles Minnesota workers to paid time off when they’re seriously ill or to care for newborns and loved ones. Some residents said they’ve heard Republicans say that the state is not ready and that small businesses may not be prepared to handle such benefits.
“It helps us attract and retain talent here in Minnesota,” Clark said. “It is a change, and change is difficult. But if we want to be outstanding in the Upper Midwest — or the shining beacon that we say we are — this is a way that we can differentiate.”
The two were asked how they could work to get a more diverse perspective on issues, citing the fact that most of the attendees that day were white.
“For me it’s very much about being proactive and picking up the phone and calling those people and saying ‘Hey, there’s a hearing happening, what do you think and how could I support you?’” Jordan said. “I think that’s an area that we kind of default to, ‘Oh, this is an area where diverse voices matter.’ But it’s not just education where diverse voices matter, it matters in things like transportation infrastructure, it matters in things like the environment.”
Another resident suggested the two DFLers pair up with Republican legislators to host these types of town halls. Clark and Jordan said they would be open to the idea
“I think the issue is that a lot of people stop at president, vice president, Senate and maybe House of Representatives,” resident Des Woods shared with the Northeaster after the event. He added that he was pleased to see many young neighbors show up. “I think legislators and state politics affect (residents) way more and are more direct than federal policies and things. So I think it’s just important to get to know your local representatives.”